Illuminated sign



Jan. 9, 1934. R R W|LEY ET AL 1,942,626

ILLUMINATED S IGN Filed July 18, 1928 2 sheets-sheet 1 1311.9, 1934. R R WILEY Er AL 1,942,626

ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed July 18, 192e 2 Sheets-sheet 2 DPM W 6.1m

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Patented Jan. 9, 1934 ILLUMINATED SIGN Roy R. Wiley, Wallace K. Wiley, and Harry J. Cudney, Buialo, N. YJ., assignors to Flexlume Corporation, Tonawanda, N. Y., a1 corporationY of New York Application Joly 1s, 192s. serial No. 293,565

i6 claims. (ci. 17a-32s) This invention relates to improvements in illuminated signs of the type in which electroluminescent tubes are employed and is particularly directed to an assembly for the support oi such tubes in the sign casing and for their connection to power.

One object of the invention is a construction which enables the tube to be easily and quickly secured to or removed from the sign casing and l0 which provides a resilient mounting for the tube as well as a water tight connection between it and the supporting wall of the sign casing wheree by the interior oi the sign casing and the parts enclosed therein are protected against the elel ments.

A further object is a construction which permits the use of glass as aninsulating medium, which may be inexpensively manufactured, easily assembled and readily secured to or removed from the sign casing, and which, when secured, will not mar the appearance of the display face of the sign. 'f

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of that portion of the assembly which is intended for more or less permanent securement within the sign casing, the supporting wall of the latter being shown in section and part of the assembly being also shown in section.

Figure 2 is a' side elevation of the complete assembly showing the relation of the parts before the tube is secured. Y

Figure 3 is a iront view ci the assembly'as it appears when the tube is secured, the electrode carrying portion of the tube being shown in cross section.

Figure i is a central longitudinal sectional View of the complete assembly.

40 Figure 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the power terminal.

Figure '7 is a plan View of a portion of an electroluminescent tube.

The assembly includesl a hollow supporting member as 1 which is preferably or" glass and of cylindrical form. One end of the member 1 is enlarged as at 2, to provide a chamber for the accommodation of a terminal which is normally connected to power, this end of the mem ber preferably being closed.

The power terminal, indicated at 3, is preferably composed of a resilient strip ci metal and bent to zig-zag form whereby it may be `compressed and inserted through the reduced or main body portion of the membervlv into the chamber 2. Other forms of power terminals may be employed, the form shown and its .cooperating relation to the electrode carrying por 60 tion of the electroluminescent tube forming the subject of a co-pending application of Harry J. Cudney, Ser. No. 293,681, `Patent No. 1,900,758. The power terminal when placedl in the chamber 2 immediately expands to a size determined 65 by the diameter of the chamber and with its end portions extending behind the shoulder wall 2c, thereby'automatically securing itself in operative position. The terminal is connected to power by a lead-in wire T4. While the wire 4 70 may be passed throughthe base of the chamber 2 it is preferably passed through a'side of the member 1, as shown, a guide nipple for said wire being formed on and open to the shoulder wall 2a; y

The advantages of such location of the lead-in wires 4 are that double face signs may be constructed of narrower dimensions than would be possible if the lead-'in wires were 'carried through the base of the chamber 2, and that the lead-in wires are connected to the terminals lat points behind the shoulder. wall 2a so that they cannot possibly come in contact with the electrode carrying portion of the tube. By passing `the lead-in wire through -a side of the member 1 itis possible, 85 in double -face signs, to have the inner ends of the opposite members 1 in close adj acency while at the same time obtainingsuch spacing of 'the lead-in wires 4 associated with said members as to guard against high tension currents jumping from onelead-in wire to the other.

The endV of the member 1, remote from the chamber 2, is flared as indicated at 5, to facilitate the sec'urement of the member to the supporting wail Dof--the sign casing. The member lis secured to the rear side of said wall and is in axial alignment with an opening 8, which is formedv in thev wall to provide for the assembly of the tube, the electrode carryingv portion of 'the tube beingv inserted through said opening. The securement of theY member l is effected by a ring 6 which engages over an outer shoulder 5a, with which the flared portion 5 is formed, 'the ring being secured to the wall D in any'suitable manner, as by bolt and nut fasteningsl.V The 'm'ar- 105 ginal edge of the flared portion 5 preferably pr jects slightly beyond the ring 6 whereby when the ring is securely bolted in position said edge is drawn tightly 'against the display wall D, thereby securelyV holding the memberl in position.

The construction thus far described is secured to or associated with the sign casing and is intended to be permanent in this relation, except that its removal may be required by the necessity of repairs or substitution, in which case such removal can be readily effected by disengaging the clamping ring 6 from the shoulder 5a. Theassembly is completed by other elements which are associated with the electrode carrying portion E of the tube T, these elements being a washer 9, and a bushing 10 and being fitted over each terminal or electrode carrying portion E of the tube before the latter is assembled upon the sign casing, the function of the parts Q'and 10 being to secure the tube in operative position and effect its support from the wall D.

The washer 9 is preferably composed of resilient insulating material. It fits tightly upon the electrode carrying portion E and is placed thereon at a point such that when the portion E of the tube'is inserted into the member 1 to the extent necessary to connect its terminal 13 to the power terminal 3, the outer marginal edge of the washer has a seating determined by the location of the inner shoulder 5b of the ilared portion 5 of the member 1, a flat gasket 11 being preferably interposed between the washer and said shoulder. The terminal 13 of the tube has a form required -to effect its cooperation with the po-wer terminal 3 and where the latter is of the form shown, the

yterminal 13 is in the form of a straight, somewhat elongated, stem or shank with a pointed end to facilitate its entry between the folds or convo-lutions of the power terminal and with a diameter which insures its contact with the resilient walls of the adjacent convolutions.

With the parts positioned as above described, the bushing l which is loosely tted on the tube portion E is moved through the wall opening 8 into engagement with the outer marginal edge portion of the washer 9 to press the latter against its seat. The bushing is preferably formed with threads l2 and the wall of the opening 8 is formed to cooperate with said threads. The outer end of the bushing is flanged to abut the display wall and cooperate with a sealing gasket 14. The bushing is preferably composed of glass. The member V1 is of substantially greater diameter than the electrode carrying portion E and the flared portion of said member is of substantially greater .diameter than the washer 9. It follows that said member will readily accommodate the electrode carrying portions of the tubes of a given length, regardless of variations in the spacing or angular relation ofsuch electrode carrying portions. The tube terminals 13 will also, regardless of variationsin the spacing or angular relation of the electrode carrying portions of the tube, effectively engage the power terminals 3 because they will always Select and enter some one ofthe folds ofthe power terminal and `engage the resilient side walls of such fold. The particular fold of the power terminal which may be engaged by the terminal 13 is, of course, dependent on the particular position of the electrode carrying portion of the tube in the member 1 and the direction in which said electrode carrying portion may extend. Thus with reference to its position in the member 1 the electrode carrying portion may co- Voff center; and likewise it may be perpendicular to the tube body or at a slight angle in either direction to the perpendicular, these variations being characteristic of the manufacture of a series of tubes of given length by the glass blowing process which does not admit of precise or exact control of the spacing and angular relation of the electrode carrying portions.

It is to be observed that the washer 9 will take a position on its seat which will correspond to the position of the electrode carrying portion of the tube in the member 1 and, being of 'llexible material, will adapt itself to any slight inclina tion of the electrode carrying portion relatively to the longitudinal axis of the member 1. By tting the washer 9 tightly on the tube and holding the outer marginal edge of the washer in the manner described and by a bushing which has a close fit in the opening 8, an efficient water tight joint between the tube and the supporting Wall of the sign casing is provided by which the parts enclosed within said casing are protected against moisture. When the tube is positioned on the Wall D the only part of the assembly which is visible is the bushing 10 and since this may have its flange but slightly larger in diameter than the opening 3 and moreover may be painted or otherwise iinished to conform to the color of the display wall, the appearance of said display wall is in no manner or degree marred or impaired as is the case with some of the tube connections heretofore employed.

The facility with which the tubes T may be applied to or removed from the sign casing will be apparent. In applying said tubes ail that is required is to insert the electrode carrying portions into the members 1 until 'the terminals 13 are fully engaged with the power terminals 3 and then to turn the bushings 10 in the openings 8 until the washers 9 are seated. To remove the tube it is only necessary to pull it outwardly from the sign casing after unscrewing the bushing. By making the member 1 of glass a further advantage is secured in that the most effective insulation possible is provided for the various parts whose insulation is either necessary or desired.

Having fully described our invention, we claim:

l. The combination with a wall having an l opening and an electroluminescent tube having an angularly extended electrode carrying termi-V nal portion for insertion through said opening, the latter being of substantially greater diameter than said terminal portion, of a hollow member secured to the inner face of said wall, and alined with said opening, said member also being of substantially greater diameterrthan said terminal portion, a power line terminal chamber supported at the end of said hollow member, remote from said wall and formed with an inwardly extending shoulder, and a compressible power line terminal normally expanded in said chamber with its ends located behind said shoulder. l

2. The combination with a wall having an opening and an electroluminescent tube having an angularly extended electrode carrying ierminal portion for insertion through said opening, the latter being of substantially greater diameter than said terminal portion, of a hollow member secured to the inner face of said wall and alined Vwith said opening, said member also being of substantially greater diameter than said terminal portion, a power line terminal chamber supported at the end of said hollow member remote from said Wall and formed with an inwardlyk extending shoulder, a compressible power line terminal normally expanded in said chamber with its ends located behind said shoulder, a terminal on said electrode carrying portion for co-operation with said power line terminal and means on said electrode carrying portion for co-operation with said display wall in the support of said tube.

3. The combination with a wall having an opening and an electroluminescent tube having an angularly exended electrode carrying terminal portion for insertion through said opening, the latter being of substantially greater diameter than said terminal portion, of a hollow member secured to the inner face of said wall and alined with said opening, said member also being of substaniially greater diameter than said terminal portion, a power line terminal chamber supported at the end of said hollow member remote from said wall and formed with an inwardly extending shoulder, a compressible power line terminal normally expanded in said chamber with its ends located behind said shoulder, a terminal on said electrode carrying portion for cooperation with said power line terminal and means on said electrode carrying portion for supporting said tube from said display wall and for sealing said openmg.

4. The combination with a wall having an opening and an electroluminescent tube having an angularly extended electrode carrying terminal portion for insertion through said opening, the latter being of substantially greater diameter than said terminal portion, of a hollow member secured to the inner face of said wall and alined with said opening, said member also being of substantially greater diameter than said terminal portion, a power line terminal chamber supported at the end of said hollow member remote from said wall and' formed with an inwardly extending shoulder, a compressible power line terminal normally expanded in said chamber with its ends located behind said shoulder, a terminal on said electrode carrying portion for co-operafion with said power line terminal, said member being pro` vided with an internal shoulder, a washer closely iitted upon said electrode carrying portion and adapted to co-operate with said shoulder as a seat, said shoulder being of substantially greater diameter than said washer and a bushing loosely tted on said electrode carrying portion and engageable with the wall of said opening and also with the marginal portion of said washer to hold the latter upon its seat'.

5. The combination with a wall having an opening and an electroluminescent tube having an angularly extended electrode carrying terminal portion for insertion through said opening, of a power line terminal chamber supported behind said wall and in line with said opening and formed with an inwardly extending shoulder and a compressiblel power line terminal normally expanded in said chamber with its ends located behind said shoulder.

5. The combination with a Wall having an opening and an electroluminescent tube having an angularly extended electrode carrying terminal portion for insertion through said opening, of a power linev terminal chamber supported behind said wall and in line with said opening and formed with an inwardly extending shoulder, a compressible power line terminal normally expanded in said chamber with its ends located behind said shoulder, and means on said electrode carrying portion for (3o-operation with said wall of said opening in supporting said tube from said display wall.

7. The combination with a wall having an opening and an electroluminescent tube having an angularly extended electrode carrying terminal portion for insertion through said opening, of a power line terminal chamber supportedv behind said wail and in line with said opening and formed with an inwardly extending shoulder, a compressible power line terminal normally expanded in said chamber with its ends located behind said shoulder, and means on said electrode carrying portion for supporting said tube from said display wall and for sealing said opening.

8. The combination with a wall having an opening and an electroluminescent tube having an angularly extended electrode carrying terminal portion for insertion through said opening, the latter being of substantially greater diameter than said terminal portion, of a hollow member secured to vthe inner face of said wall and alined with said opening, said member providing a chamber o substantially greater diameter than said terminal portion, a power line terminal supported at the end of said member remote from said wall, said power line terminalv being sinuous in outline whereby to provide a plurality of folds, a vterminal on said electrode carrying portion -for entry between any one of said folds and means on said electrode carrying portion for cooperation vwith said display wall in the support of said tube, said means being operative in the various positions of (3o-operation between the terminal carried by said electrode carrying portion and said power terminal. i

9. The combination with a wall having an opening and an electroluminescent tube having ran angularly extended electrode carrying terminal portion for insertion through said opening, the latter being of substantially greater diameter than 110 said terminal portion, of a hollow member secured to the inner face of said wall and alined with said opening, said member providing a chamber of substantially greater diameter than said terminal portion, a power line terminal supported 115 at the end of said member remote from said wall, said power line terminal bei-ng sinuous in outline whereby to prov-ide a plurality of folds, a terminal on said electrode carrying portion for entry between any one of said folds and means on said 120 electrode lcarrying portion for supporting said tube from said display wall and for sealing said opening, said means being operative in the various positions of co-operation between the terminal carried by said electrode carrying portion and -125 said power terminal.

10. The combination with a wall having an opening and an eleotrolu-minescent tube having an angularly extended electrode carrying terminal portion for insertion through said opening, the latter being of `substantially greater diameter than said terminal portion, of a hollow member secured to the inner face of said wall and alined with said opening, said member also being of substantially greater diameter than said terminal portion, a power line terminal supported at the end of said member remote from said wall. a terminal on said electrode carrying portion for cooperation with said power line terminal at any one of various points in its extent, said member being provided with an internal shoulder, a washer closely tted upon said electrode carrying portion and adapted to co-operate with said shoulder as a seat, said shoulder being of substantially greater diameter than said washer, and a bushing loosely iitted on said electrode carrying portion and engageable with the wall of said opening and also with the marginal portion of said washer to hold the latter upon its seat.

1l. The combination with a wall having an 150 opening and an electroluminescent tube having van angularly extended electrode carrying terminal portion for insertion through said opening, the latter being of substantially greater diameter than said terminal portion, of a hollow member oi insulated material secured to the inner face oi' said wall and alined with said opening,

Ysaid member also being of substantially greater diameter than said terminal portion, a power line terminal supported at the closed end or" said Amember remote from said wall, said member having an enlarged chamber enclosing said power .line terminal and having an opening at one side communicating with said chamber through its inner end and a lead-in wire passed through said opening and connected to said power line terminal.

12. The combination with a wall having an opening and an eleetroluminesoent tube having an angularly extended electrode carrying terminal portion for insertion through said opening, the latter being or substantially greater diameter than said terminal portion, of a hollow member oi' insulating material secured to the inner fase of said wail and alined with said opening, said member also being of substantially greater diameter than said terminal portion and being formed at its end remote from wall with an enlarged power line terminal chamber, and a compressible power line terminal normally expanded and thereby secured in said chamber.

13. The combination with a wall having an opening and an electroluminescent 'tube having an angularly extended electrode carrying terminal portion for insertion through said opening, the latter being or" substantially greater diameter than said terminal portion, of a hollow member of insulating material secured to the inner face of said wall and alined with said opening, said member also being of substantially greater diu arneter than said terminal portion and being formed at its end remote -iroin said wall with an enlarged power line terminal chamber, and a shoulder extending inward from the wall of said chamber, a compressible power line terminal normally expanded in said chamber with its ends located behind said shoulder and the lead-in wire, said shoulder having an aperture and said lead-in wire being passed through said aperture and connected to the power line terminal at a point behind said shoulder.

14. The combination of a wall having an opening and an electroluminescent tube having an angularly extending electrode carrying terminal portion for insertion through said opening, the latter being of substantially greater diameter than said terminal portion, of an annular member secured to the inner face of said wall and in line with said opening, the member having a shoulder of substantially the same .diameter as said opening, a washer closely ntted upon said electrode carrying portion and adapted to cooperate with said shoulder as a seat, said shoulder being of substantially greater diameter than said washer, and a bushing loosely fitted on said electrode carrying portion and engageable with the wall of said opening and also with the marginal portion of said washer to hold the latter upon its seat.

l5. The combination of a Wall having an opening and an eleotroluminescent tube having an angularly extending electrode carrying terminal portion for insertion through said opening, the latter being of substantially greater diameter than said terminal portion, of an annular member secured to the inner face of said wall and in line with said opening, the member having a shoulder of substantially the saine diameter as said opening, a washer closely tted upon said electrode carrying portion and adapted to cooperate with said shoulder as a seat, said shoulder eing of substantially greater diameter than said washer, a bushing loosely iitted on said electrode carrying portion and engageabie with Ythe wall of said opening and also with the marginal portion of said washerito hold the latter upon its seat, a power line rterminal supported behind said opening and a terminal on said electrode carrying portion for cooperation with said power line terminal.

16. In an electric sign, the combination with a wall having an opening and electroluminesf cent tube having an angularly extending electrode carryingV terminal portion ror insertion through said opening, the latter being of substantially greater diameter thanY said terminal portion, of a hollow member secured to the inner face of said wall and aligned with said opening,

.said member providing a chamber of substanbetween the terminal married by electrode carrying portion and said power terminal.

ROY R. WILEY. WALLACE K. WILEY. HARRY J. CUDNEY. 

